GITA ABHYAS

1. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success

"Failure can delay my success, but it can't stop me from becoming successful."

Learn from setbacks. Failure is not the end but a valuable learning experience. When faced with disappointment, it's crucial to analyze what went wrong and use that knowledge to improve future attempts. This resilience and willingness to learn from mistakes are key traits of successful individuals.

Maintain perspective. Remember that temporary setbacks do not define your overall journey. Instead of dwelling on failures, focus on the progress you've made and the lessons learned. This positive mindset will help you bounce back stronger and more determined.

Seek guidance. Find a mentor or guru who can provide wisdom and support during challenging times. Their experience and insights can help you navigate difficulties and stay motivated on your path to success.

2. Practice Karma Yoga: Act without attachment to results

"कर्मणये वाधिकारस्ते मां फलेषु कदाचन" (You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work.)

Focus on action, not outcomes. Karma Yoga teaches us to perform our duties to the best of our abilities without being overly concerned about the results. This approach helps reduce stress and anxiety associated with expectations.

Develop equanimity. By detaching from outcomes, we can maintain a balanced state of mind in both success and failure. This emotional stability allows for clearer thinking and more effective decision-making.

Offer actions to a higher purpose. Consider your work as an offering to God or the greater good. This shift in perspective can infuse your actions with deeper meaning and reduce the ego's attachment to personal gain.

3. Harness the power of Prana Shakti through proper lifestyle

"If the prana is high, it will remove these blockages and flow to all the body parts, keeping it healthy."

Optimize your daily routine. Align your activities with natural rhythms to maximize Prana Shakti:

• Wake up during Brahma Muhurta (1.5 hours before sunrise)
• Practice Surya Namaskar and Pranayama
• Eat fresh, Sattvic foods
• Spend time in nature

Cultivate positive thoughts. Negative emotions and thoughts deplete Prana Shakti, while positive ones increase it. Practice mindfulness and consciously choose uplifting thoughts throughout the day.

Balance rest and activity. Ensure adequate sleep and relaxation to replenish Prana Shakti. Avoid overexertion and learn to listen to your body's needs for optimal energy flow.

4. Control your senses (Indriya Nigraha) for personal growth

"If you control Jivha (tongue), Upastha (genitals) will automatically be controlled."

Practice self-discipline. Develop control over your senses through regular practices:

• Fasting once a week
• Observing Maun Vrat (silence) for specific periods
• Limiting sensory inputs (e.g., reducing screen time)

Cultivate awareness. Pay attention to your impulses and reactions throughout the day. This heightened awareness will help you make conscious choices rather than being ruled by habitual patterns.

Start small and build. Begin with manageable goals for sense control and gradually increase the duration and intensity. Consistency is key in developing lasting self-mastery.

5. Cultivate Sattva guna for mental clarity and spiritual progress

"Sattva is harmony, wisdom, equilibrium and goodness. It will make a person enlightened, healthy, getting attached to peace and make one interested in actual knowledge."

Create a Sattvic environment. Surround yourself with elements that promote peace and purity:

• Keep your living space clean and clutter-free
• Display uplifting art or sacred images
• Spend time in nature or create a small indoor garden

Adopt a Sattvic diet. Choose fresh, whole foods that are prepared with love and mindfulness. Avoid processed, stale, or excessively spicy foods that can increase Rajas or Tamas.

Engage in Sattvic activities. Prioritize practices that cultivate inner peace and wisdom:

• Study sacred texts
• Practice meditation and yoga
• Engage in selfless service
• Cultivate positive relationships

6. Perform selfless service to overcome ego and connect with others

"If a person starts working for others (people, animals, environment etc.), then unconsciously he will start seeing himself in others as well."

Expand your sense of self. Engage in regular acts of service without expectation of recognition or reward. This practice helps break down the barriers between self and others, fostering a sense of unity and compassion.

Practice humility. When performing good deeds, remember that you are an instrument of a higher power. This perspective helps prevent the ego from claiming ownership of the actions and their results.

Cultivate empathy. Through selfless service, develop a deeper understanding of others' struggles and joys. This expanded awareness can lead to more harmonious relationships and a greater sense of purpose in life.

7. Develop Bhakti Yoga to attain ultimate spiritual realization

"The supreme power in which the entire universe is present and who is present in all the beings, that Parama purusha (Bhagwan) can be attained only with bhakti."

Choose a path of devotion. Select a form of Bhakti that resonates with you:

• Chanting divine names
• Studying sacred texts
• Performing rituals with devotion
• Singing devotional songs
• Meditating on the divine

Cultivate a personal relationship with the Divine. Approach your chosen deity or concept of God as a beloved friend, parent, or lover. This emotional connection deepens your spiritual practice and infuses everyday life with sacred meaning.

Surrender the ego. Gradually let go of the sense of separate self and merge your identity with the Divine. This process of surrender is the essence of Bhakti Yoga and leads to the highest spiritual realization.

Last updated: August 4, 2024